Vacation Rentals: 5 Ways to Be A Tourist in Your Hometown

We’ve talked a lot about all of the great things about Orlando and central Florida so far. You might be itching for a vacation here, but for whatever reason it has to wait. School, work, family, kids– it can all become a little overwhelming and put a damper on any vacation hopes you might have. But who’s to say that you can’t have a little r & r in your own hometown?

Orlando may have Disney and SeaWorld and beaches and spas and world class dining, but you can find excitement, relaxation, and inspiration in any location as long as you know where to look, and as long as you let yourself be open to the possibilities. Here are a list of ideas that you can peruse to find out how to have your perfect stay at home vacation.

Rent a holiday home in your own hometown to find a change of pace. If you live in a beachtown, you could rent a vacation apartment right by the water for a couple days. The change of scenery will definitely give you the feeling that you are on vacation. If you live nearby any camping spots, you can pitch a tent and start a campfire and have an outdoor experience, knowing that home is just a few minutes away. While it might seem silly to vacation in your hometown, it can give you the recharge that you need and a little change to the routine you settle into every day.

Break out your Hawaiian shirt and your polaroid camera and hit the streets. Taking pictures is a great way to get a new perspective on your city or town. While we often take our hometown for granted, taking pictures forces you to look and observe and take in beautifully scenery, landmarks, and other sites that you would otherwise ignore. Another great idea is to have some of those pictures printed and framed for your house. It will give you a constant reminder about the town in which you live and the possibility for exploring and enjoying it.

If you don’t have all the time in the world, condense your vacation down to an evening. You could take someone special out for a fancy dinner and then see a movie or hit the spa. While this doesn’t really fit the description for a full-fledged vacation, you might think about leaving the phones at home to really unwind and get disconnected for a while. It can be really a really freeing experience to not check your phone and not worry about missing anything, because 99% of the time, it can wait.

Go to a local museum or other attraction that you usually wouldn’t visit. When we travel we often try to fit in as much as possible, going to every museum, every park, every historical site, trying to see everything and not miss out on anything our foreign destination has to offer. Yet, for some reason we don’t consider the attractions in our own hometowns worth the time. Well, maybe because they are always there and we never will really miss out on the opportunity. Taking a mini-personal vacation in your own town can give you the chance to see these things, and who knows maybe you will have found your new favorite spot.

If you are staying in a rental condo, rental villa, or rental house in a different city, it’s easy to enter your vacation state of mind. In your own town its not as easy, but you can still try to get a vacation experience. If you visualize your day, exit your routine, get off the couch, turn off the TV, pack your camera, and head out for the day, you can trick yourself into enjoying all that your own town has to offer. And if that doesn’t work you can always come to Orlando.

As a Reservations Manager, I've grown to love the experience of making your vacation become the best vacation in your new home away from home! It's been a pleasure working to make your vacation a great one whether it being a short break or family getaway, I strive to make your experience not only a great one but the best one!